Read Performance Part I: Data
Pressed CD Read Speeds
We used a commercially pressed data CD nearly 74 minutes in length (73:21.05 to be exact).
As the Nero CD Speed screenshot shows, the drive operates in Full CAV mode. This means that the CD spins at a constant speed and the data transfer rate increases steadily as the writer moves toward the outside of the media. The maximum transfer rate of 40.78 we measured narrowly exceeds the specified 40x. In direct comparison with competing USB2.0 models (Liteon LXR-24101A, Yamaha CRW-F1UX) the Frisby's very fast random access time of 88 ms is a pleasant surprise.
| Original CD | Average Reading Speed | Start Reading Speed | End Reading Speed | Access Times Random | Access Times 1/3 | Access Times Full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liteon LXR24101A | 30.20X | 19.52X | 39.84X | 97 ms | 106 ms | 173 ms |
| Waitec Frisby II | 30.92X | 20.36X | 40.78X | 88 ms | 102 ms | 174 ms |
| Yamaha CRW-F1UX | 31.93X | 18.65X | 42.15X | 127 ms | 149 ms | 260 ms |
This will save a lot of time when installing software.
CD-R Read Speeds
For this test we used a 1:1 copy of the original CD mentioned earlier. The TDK CD-R80 Metallic media provided us with the following ATIP information:
- ATIP: 97m 15s 17f
- Disc Manufacturer: Ritek Co.
- Reflective layer: Dye (Short strategy; e.g., phthalocyanine)
- Media type: CD-Recordable
- Recording Speeds: min. unknown - max. unknown
- Nominal Capacity: 702.83 MB (79m 59s 73f / LBA: 359848)
| CDR | Average Reading Speed | Start Reading Speed | End Reading Speed | Access Times Random | Access Times 1/3 | Access Times Full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liteon LXR24101A | 30.18X | 20.05X | 39.69X | 102 ms | 111 ms | 173 ms |
| Waitec Frisby II | 30.97X | 20.40X | 40.72X | 93 ms | 99 ms | 183 ms |
| YamahaCRW-F1UX | 32.00X | 18.89X | 42.12X | 123 ms | 145 ms | 265 ms |
This drive is also very fast when using CD-Rs, although seek times are slightly slower than with a pressed CD.